Gas-producer.



W. J. LAY.

GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l0. 15H5.

1,200,857. Patented om.. 10,1916.

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GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY Io. I9I5.

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W. i. LAY.

GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICATION msn :uu/1o. 19m.

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Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WILLIAM JOHN LAY, OF MELVILLE, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA.

GAS-PRODUCER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 10, 1916.

AAltlpIcaton filed July 10, 1915. Serial No. 39,134.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM JOHN LAY, of the town of Melville, in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gaslroducers, of which the following is the speciiication.

The invention relates to improvements in gas producers, particularly to the suction gas producer type, and the objects of the invention are as follows: To provide a gas producer of the boiler type in which no fire bricks are used and wherein there is no vaporizer in the fire box; to provide a gas producer wherein the water utilized is immediately associated with the fire and accordingly allows of a low fire while effecting an eflicient heating of the water and also avoids the various lire troubles as occur where the water chamber is located at a considerable distance from the fire; to provide a gas producer wherein a proper mixing of the water vapor and gases can be had through the provision of a means for initially heating, to a high temperature, the air admitted to the producer before allowing it to mingle with the lire gases; to provide a gas producer of simple design which can be readily set up and which, when operating, requires little attention and in which repair troubles are of small concern.

With the above objects in view the invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter more particularly described and later pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a side view of the complete gas producer. Fig. 2 represents a vertical vsectional view longitudinally through the producer. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the producer. Fig. 4 represents a horizontal cross sectional view, at an enlarged scale, through the base of the producer, the section being taken in the plane denoted by the line X-X Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal cross sectional view at an enlarged scale, through the producer, the section being taken in the plane denoted by the line `Y--YV Fig. 1. Fig. 6 represents an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view through the base of the producer, the section being taken in the plane denoted by the line T-T Fig. 1. Fig. 7 represents an enlarged detailed horizontal sectional view through the bottom of the producer, the section passing through the iire doors. Fig. 8 represents an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view through the grate and adjacent parts. Fig. 9 represents an enlarged detailed face view of one of the manholes. Fig. 10 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the manhole. Fig. 11 represents an inverted plan view of the air intake casting detached from the producer. Fig. 12 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the bearings supporting the valve rod.

In the drawings likev characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

1 represents a concrete base or bed forming a permanent support for the producer and providing a water basin or reservoir 2. This reservoir is normally closed over by a base plate 3 having a central opening therein which receives the outer cylindrical casing 4 of the producer, the lower end of which rests on and is fastened to a pair of I-beams 5 and 6 passing across the water reservoir and having their ends embedded in the concrete. Angle iron fastening bars, 7 and 8, surround the lower end of the casing' and attach the same to the I-beams and to the base plate 3.

The base plate is equipped with a number of hinged covers 9 located at suitable points around the outer casing.

To the outer casing I have secured permanent upper and lower spacing rings 10 and 11, which rings carry an inner cylindrical casing 12. fastened together through the rings, the rings spacing them and inclosing an annular water chamber or acket 13.

14 is a top' plate permanently secured to the ring 10 and closing over the casings. It is to be noticed that the lower ring, as also the lower end of the inner casing, terminate well above the base plate 3 and provide, in this area, what might be termed an ash pit tom, in so far as the outer casing is concerned, terminating, as it does, in the water receptacle.

In a location within the lower end of the inner casing and directly above the lower ring 11, I have located a grate 16, which grate is formed from a plurality of similar and pivoted grate bars 17 having their ends mounted in a circumscribing carrying band The two casings are actually f 15, the ash pit, however, having an open bot- 18 permanently secured to the inner' wall of the inner casing. These grate bars are best shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings.

Each gratebar is supplied, more or less centrally of its length, -with a downwardly extending lug 19 and these lugs are all connected pivotally, as indicated at 20, to a common connecting bar 20 passing across the producer and provided, at the forward end, with a pivoted coupling piece 21 which receives the inner end of a screw threaded extension rod 22 which passes outwardly, slidably, through a bushing Q3 presented by the outer casing. This bushing is best shown in vertical sectionin Fig. 8 of the drawings.

It will be noticed that the bushing is a two-piece one, fitted with a packing Q4 which bears on the extension rod and effects, at all times, an air tightsliding joint at this point.

The outerend of the connecting rod terminates in an eye which is connected pivotally by a pin 25 to a shaker link 2G having he lower end pivotally connected as indicated at 27 to the side of the outer casing and the upper end.y terminating in a shank designed. to receive the lower end of a shaking lever or handle 2S.

From the above construction it is obvious that by shaking the handle one can effect the shaking of the grates and the consequent cleaning of the ashes from the` fire pit.

The area abo-ve the grates and within the inner casing forms a` combustion chamber indicated by the reference numeral 12.

In the base of the outer casing, beneath the grates, I have provided, for cleaning purposes, a manhole 29 comprising an inlet casting 30 permanently fastened to the casing, a cover plate 31 fitted over and-inclosingA the opening in the casting and a retaining rod 32 which passes through lugs 33 provided onthe cover plate, a lug 31 provided `on the casting and a surrounding yoke bar 35 is pivotally fastened to the casting` A thumb screw 36 is supplied on the rod which screw engages with the back face of the cover plate and is designed, when screwed up tightly, to jam the cover plate tightly against the casting and effect an air tight joint. The details of this manhole, although herein described, are not essential in carryingout thel invention.

At diametrically opposing points in the casings, Ihave located, in the present instance, four fire doors, 37, 38, 39 and 40, these being directly above the grates and all similar in construction as` now described. Each embodies a slightly taperedcollar 41 inserted between the casings yand permanently fastened to the same, whichr collar receives, tightly, an outstandingslightly tapered pipe 42 which provides of entrance to the` firepit. The outer end of this pipe is normally closed by a capl3 fitted with a suitable hand piece 14, the cap fitting snugly over the projecting end of the pipe. Intermediate between these fire doors and in a location just above the grates I have provided hand holes i5 which allow of ready entrance to the bottom of the water ackets. Each hand hole comprises a closure plate 4G provided with a centrally disposed outstanding fastening bolt L7 fitted with a nut 48 which is designed to screw in against a clamping piece #i9 mounted on the bolt. By this arrangement it will be seen that a water tight joint can be effected at the hand holes as one, by tightening up the nuts, can jam the closure plates tightly against the inner face of the outer casing.

.30 represents an air inlet casting permanently secured to the upper end of the outer casing and opening through the casing as indicated at 51 to the water jacket. This inlet casting is supplied with a number (in the present instance four) upstanding air inlet pipes which have their lower endsI screw threaded into the lower side of the casting and opening to the exterior' air. The upper ends of these pipes extending above the water level inthe jacket.

Closure gates 53 and 5i are pivotally secured at 55 to the underside of this casting, such gates being supplied so that one can control, by shifting the gates, the amount of air admitted to the pipes.

Ina location at the opposite side of the producer, from the casting 50, I have located a plurality of, what I term, combination steam and air suction pipes, 55, (in the present instance five). These pipes are vertically disposed and have their upper ends opening to the water jacket, but above the water level therein, and their lower ends opening to the interior of the outer casing in a location beneath the grates. At the points where the pipes are attached to the casing, a water and air tight joint is provided.

57is a vertically disposed feed water pipe located at the exterior' of the producer and having the lower end thereof opening at 5T to the bottom of thc water jacket.

5S is an overflow pipe entering the water jacket toward the top and as indicated at 5S and having the lower end thereof terminating in the water reservoir 2.

59 is an overflow pipe leading from the top of the water reservoir.

On the top plate 1i of the producer I have mounted a charging or feed cylinder 60 for the coal to be dropped into the grates. This comprises an upwardly flaring base piece 61 permanently mounted, centrally, on the top plate and having the interior thereof cast to provide a valve seat 62. On this base piece 61 I mount a cylinder 63 having the top closed over by a top piece G4 which is fitted with an entrance opening 65 normally closed by a releasable swinging gate 66.

67 is a cone shaped valve normally seated on the valve seat 62 provided. This valve` The bearing 7 2 is in the nature of a sleeve,

having the outer end fitted with a packing nut 73 containing packing 741 whereby an air tight joint can be made.

The outer end of the valve rod is supplied with a lever 7 5 whereby the valve can be manipulated from the exterior of the producer.

76 is a suction pipe mounted on the top plate lel and opening to the interior of the casing 12.

77 is an apron or guide pan carried by the top plate 14 and -located immediately be* neath the valve.

The above completes the description of the parts, but in order that the invention may be better understood I will now describe its operation7 considering that the feed cylinder has been filled with coal and that a coal fire has been kindled on the grates and the suction pipe 7 6 has been connected with a suction gas engine in the ordinary way, it being understood that the producer, for the purpose of this description, is utilized to supply a combustible gas for the gas engine attached to it.

Under the above conditions it is obvious that the water in the jacket or chamber 13 will be heated to a high temperature and will be evolving steam, this steam appearing in the upper portion of the jacket and that gases will be accumulating within the inner casing above the fire. On the suction strokes of the engine there will be a suction effected in the pipe 7 6 which will have the effect of drawing air in through the pipes 52 around the top of the water jacket, through the steam, down the pipes 56 to the upper portion of the ashpit 15 up through the grates and up through the inner casing. The atmospheric air admitted through the pipes 52 will be initially heated to a high temperature when passing through such pipes on account of these pipes being for the greater part surrounded by the extremely hot water in the jacket which, it will be un.- derstood, extends into the casting 50. This air is accordingly hot when it is mixed, in the upper portion of the water jacket with the steam evolved from the water and the mixed steam and air is very hot when passed through the fire and when it is finally mixed with the gases evolved from the fire and contained within the inner casing. This primary heating of the air, prior to admitting it to mix with the steam, and the subsequent passage of the mixed air and steam, at a high temperature, to and through the lire, are very important features in connection with my invention as in this way I am able to produce a highly eicient gas with my producer.

Another point to which I wish to draw particular attention is the assembly which effects the close association of the water with the fire pit. From observation of the drawings it is obvious that thebottom of the water jacket surrounds the fire andV there is only the thickness of the inner casing between the water and the lire. The result is that the water is not only quickly but effectively heated and this while permitting a more or less low iire to be kept. I mention this feature as it allows me to control my iire and in so doing produce an eiiicient gas at low cost and with small outlay in repairs during continued use.

The fire is replenished from time to time by manipulating the hand lever 7 5 to raise the valve and allow coal to drop onto the grates. Coal can be placed into the feed cylinder through the gate 66 when desired. The ashes accumulating from the coal can be shaken down into the water reservoir, or water basin 2, from time to time to keep the grates clear and these can be removed from the water by drawing out through the covers 9 by a tool such as a hoe.

The special construction of the base pro- -vides a means for attending to the ashes without allowing air into the producer as the water in the basin provides a water seal at all times at the bottom of the producer, this water seal really amounting, in inches, to the depth of water kept between the overflow pipe 59 and the lower end of the outer casing. This distance has been represented by the reference letter a in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The handholes 45 provide a ready means forcleaning out deposits from the water that may accumulate in the jacket while the manhole allows of an easy entrance to the underside of the grates for repair or other purposes.

llhat I claiml as my invention is g- 1. In a gas producer the combination with a water jacketed combustion chamber, of an air inlet casting secured to the exterior of the combustion chamber and opening to the water acket and admitting the water of the jacket to the casting and air inlet pipes attached to the casting and having their lower ends communicating with the exterior air, the body portions thereof passing through the water of the acket and the upper ends opening to the top of the water jacket.

2. In a gas producer the combination with a water jacketed combustion chamber, of an air inlet casting secured to the outer wall of the combustion chamber and opening through said wall to the water jacket, thereby permitting the water of the acket to enter the casting and vertically disposed air inlet pipes secured to the casting and having their lower ends communicating with the exterior air, the body portions thereof passing through the water of the jacket in the casting and the upper ends thereof opening to the top of the water jacket.

3. Ina gas producer the combination with a water j acketed combustion chamber, of an air inlet casting secured to the outer wall of the combustion chamber and opening through said wall to the water jacket, thereby permitting the water of the jacket to enter the casting, vertically disposed air inlet pipes secured .to the casting and having their lower ends communicating with the eXte rior air, the body portions thereof passing through the water of the jacket-in the casting and the upper ends thereof opening to the top of the water jacket and means 'lor controlling the entrance of the air to the pipes.

AI. In combination, a water reservoir, submerged supporting means within the res# ervoir, a gas producer having the base thereof open and mounted on the means and a base plate closing over the reservoir and surrounding the lower end of the producer7 said base plate being fitted with a plurality of covers allowing of entrance to the reservoir.

Signed at Vinnipeg this 12th day of J une, 1915.

GERALD S. ROXBURGH, S. SILVERT.

Copiesof this patent may be obtainedeforve cen-ts each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

